The Dyer's Garden [Paperback]

Rita Buchanan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

Touching on the history and nature of dye plants, this comprehensive guide walks readers through a garden season from design to planting to harvesting for the dyepot, discussing 18 dye plants in detail.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rita Buchanan is the author of Taylor's Master Guide to Landscaping.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883010071
• ISBN-13: 978-1883010072
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > Agronomy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book around for plant dyes, September 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dyer's Garden (Paperback)

Rita gives CLEAR instructions on WHAT part of the plant to harvest for which color; which mordants and which fibers produce which colors; and what time of the year to harvest the plant. In addition, her color photos of the color outcome are neatly stacked along the right edge, enabling the reader to flip through the book to see the colors. There is also an appendix listing where the reader can get seeds for the plants in the book. Anyone interested in trying GOOD dye plants (almost any plant will give you at least tan) should have this small, well-written and beautifully illustrated book. Rita is one of the best.

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for re-enactors, October 26, 1999

By 

Jennifer M. Morse (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dyer's Garden (Paperback)

I particularly recommend this book as a visual source for historical re-enactors.

Too often there are descriptions of what dye-plants were used to color garments, but, no examples of what those colors would look like. This book provides clear, vivid color photos on a whole range of dye-plants grown during pre-medieval, medieval, Colonial, and later times. Additionally, it shows the same dye used on different fibers, sometimes with different mordants (fixers). Fiber samples include linen, wool, silk, and cotton.

I recommend this book to people interested in making clothing from "modern" material...it gives them the best opprotunity possible to try to find close color-matches. Alternately, it provides solid information to dye cloth by hand.

Also, the low price can't be beat!

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific -- and "For Real", May 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dyer's Garden (Paperback)

Beautifully researched, solid data, and great color illustrations and presentation AND amazingly enough, her information is ACCURATE. No theoretical blather based on other references or wishful thinking. She has clearly tested, cross-checked, and validated all of her information first-hand. That in itself is remarkable, greatly appreciated, enormously valuable. Thank you Ms. Buchanan!